The Arkansas Optometric Association recently named Hayden Sowers, ’11, the recipient of the 2010 Dr. William H. Townsend Scholarship. Sowers received a $1,500 scholarship for his academic achievements.

A resident of Clinton, Arkansas, Sowers is the son of Ken and Darlene Sowers of Shirley, Arkansas. He is the husband of Rachel Walden Sowers of Batesville, Arkansas. He is a 2003 graduate of Clinton High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Central Arkansas.

Enacting an important goal in the college’s strategic plan, SCO has begun a new recruitment initiative with Dr. Janette Dumas at the helm as Coordinator of Minority Recruitment.

“As part of the new Strategic Plan and the college’s desired emphasis on a greater outreach to prospective underrepresented minority students, Sunnie Ewing, Director of Student Recruitment, and I determined that creating the position of Coordinator of Minority Student Recruitment would benefit us in many ways,” said Joe Hauser, Vice President of Student Services.

“We feel having Dr. Dumas’ talents and admissions experience in this new role will provide the college a much greater exposure to qualified underrepresented minority students.”

Dr. Dumas, who says she is excited about the new position, feels patients will inevitably benefit from this new recruiting initiative and has already begun planning her approach.

“The need for more minority eye care professionals is evident because there is a disparity between the number of minority patients and the number of minority optometrists,” she said.

“Activities such as participating in recruitment trips, establishing contacts, and, most importantly, building relationships, will be instrumental in reaching our goal.”

First appointed to SCO’s faculty in 2004, Dr. Dumas serves as an Assistant Professor. She earned her Doctor of Optometry degree at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and completed her Residency in Pediatrics at SCO.

SCO was pleased to welcome representatives of Vistakon for a recent visit to campus. Company representatives met with SCO President Richard W. Phillips, OD, FAAO, to discuss current programs and opportunities to support the college.

Pictured from L-R are Susan Grissom, Vistakon Professional Sales Representative, Dr. Colleen Riley, Vice President, Professional Development; Dr. Phillips, and Dr. Chris Cooper, a 1997 SCO alumnus and Professional Affairs Consultant for Vistakon.

Following a national search, immediate appointments have been announced for two clinical chief positions at The Eye Center at Southern College of Optometry. James E. Venable, OD, Executive Director for Clinical Programs, made the announcements.

Patricia Estes-Walker, OD, has been named Interim Chief of Adult Primary Care.

Dr. Walker brings a wealth of experience to this new position from her work in private practice, referral centers and academics,” Dr. Venable said. “Her residency training, extensive managerial experience and years of patient care have prepared her to lead our largest clinical Service Area. Dr. Walker will also continue to serve as SCO’s Director of Continuing Education and we look forward to some innovative synergism between these areas.  We are confident her leadership will be of great benefit to TEC’s administrative team.”

Daniel Smith, OD, has been named Interim Chief of Pediatric Primary Care.

“Dr. Smith’s extensive experience in pediatric optometry includes private practice, institutional care and academics,” said Dr. James E. Venable, Executive Director of Clinical Programs. “During his tenure with SCO he has demonstrated himself to be a skilled clinical and didactic educator with a passion for children and their special eye health and visual needs. We are very excited about his leadership as we continue to deliver unparalleled service in this area, in keeping with our Strategic Plan. ”

Dr. Venable expressed his thanks and deepest appreciation to Dr. Glen Steele for his many years of service to SCO and TEC as the previous Pediatric Chief. Dr. Steele will remain on SCO faculty so students and colleagues can continue to benefit from his extensive knowledge.

The SCO family is saddened by the loss of Emma Ivie, the five-year-old daughter of Kerie and Jared Ivie, OD ’09.

Emma lost her battle with cancer last evening. We were privileged to be part of Emma’s life during her time in Memphis. Please keep the Ivie family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

The Ivie family’s Caring Bridge Website
Photos from Emma’s recent birthday party at SCO

Southern College of Optometry recently hosted a reception for Memphis area lawmakers. The legislative reception allowed legislators and key decision-makers to interact with the college’s leaders, faculty and area optometrists.

Taking a tour of The Eye Center at SCO were State Senator Beverly Marrero, State Representative Ulysses Jones, Dr. Bart Campbell, Dr. Sharon Tabachnick, Andrea Jones, Dr. Andrew Rixon, State Representative Karen Camper, and Dr. James E. Venable, SCO’s Executive Director for Clinical Programs.

Dr. W.C. Maples, Southern College of Optometry (SCO) Professor, has been honored with the establishment of a student scholarship award in his honor.

The Dr. W.C. Maples Award for Clinical Excellence in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation was announced by Dr. Marc Taub, Chief of Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation Services and Dr. Glen Steele, Chief of Pediatrics at The Eye Center at SCO.

“What he has given to optometry, specifically behavioral optometry, cannot be quantified,” said Dr. Taub. “He has personally participated in the optometric education of several thousand doctors of optometry, putting all of his effort into reaching each and every one.”

He noted that Dr. Maples is a former president of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) and that he was recognized earlier this year with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Congress of Behavioral Optometry (ICBO).

“This award is great news,” said SCO President Dr. Richard W. Phillips. “He is a very worthy individual to be honored.”

Also joining Drs. Taub and Phillips for the announcement were two long-time colleagues and former classmates of Dr. Maples – Dr. Glen Steele and Dr. Al Fors – both of whom were similarly honored two years ago with the establishment of a student scholarship award in their honor.

Dr. Maples is a 1968 SCO graduate who joined the SCO faculty five years ago after three decades of service on the faculty at the Northeastern State University College of Optometry in Oklahoma.

Recipients of the Dr. W.C. Maples Award will be students with a grade of honors in the Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation clinical course, an active member of COVD, and who write an essay on how clinical experience influences the way they will treat and include vision therapy in their future optometry practice.

Colleagues or former students of Dr. Maples may contribute to this new award by contacting Brenda Pearson, SCO’s Director of Development, at (901) 722-3285 or by email at bpearson@sco.edu.

Photo: Dr. Maples was joined by his colleagues in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation Services for the announcement.

SCO President Richard W. Phillips, OD, FAAO, recently was honored by the Memphis Rotary Club as a Paul Harris Fellow and as the Memphis chapter’s Rotarian of the Year.

The Paul Harris Fellowship is named after the founder of the Rotary Club, Paul Harris. It is the highest honor a Rotary Club can bestow on one of its members. The Memphis chapter awards the recognition for service to the club and the community.

“We felt Dr. Phillips deserved the recognition, as well as being named our Rotarian of the Year, because of his dedication to, and enthusiasm for, our international projects – a clean water project in Haiti and Stop Hunger Now Partnership,” said Taylor Hughes, Executive Director of the Memphis Rotary Club.

One of the tenets of SCO’s mission calls for the college to lead the profession by fostering a personal commitment to service. Congratulations to Dr. Phillips for embodying SCO’s mission through his service to the Memphis Rotary Club and upon the occasion of receiving the Paul Harris Fellowship and Rotarian of the Year awards.

A group of nearly 50 SCO student interns, faculty and staff traveled to East Tennessee the weekend of May 21-24 to participate at Lincoln Memorial University’s fifth annual Remote Area Medical Clinic.

The RAM clinic provided a variety of health care services to members of the public in need of basic health care, dental or vision care. SCO’s group of volunteers conducted vision screenings for more than 500 patients.

WBIR TV in Knoxville published this story on its website with video coverage that also mentions SCO’s contributions. WYMT in Kentucky also has a story and video news report that shows several of SCO’s volunteers on camera.

One of the basic tenets of SCO’s mission is to foster a personal commitment to service, so kudos for this combined effort from students, faculty and staff to provide their expertise and time by helping others!

SCO held its commencement ceremony for the Class of 2010 on Friday, April 30 at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church. Visit our Commencement page to view photos from the ceremony and from the previous evening’s Senior Banquet.

Continue to check our Commencement page for more photos to follow from the pre-commencement reception for graduates and from the post-commencement military promotion ceremony.

Photos from the event may also be found in our Flickr Gallery.